New 2019 Renault Clio: will it still deliver va-va-voom?

More space, comfort and tech promised by new 2019 Renault Clio, along with a big leap in quality

Renault will attempt to restore its va-va-voom later this year with the all-new 2019 Clio, which promises chic design, quality touches and more personality - thanks to customisation options.

The company says that the new Clio will become the best small car on sale, with claims of class-leading space, quality and digital displays.

Top-of-the-range Clio models will have a large 9.3in portrait screen in the middle of the dashboard, along with a 10in digital display behind the steering wheel. This will show the speedometer, rev counter and sat-nav directions, along with other information that’s customisable.

Other options, such as mood lighting, wireless phone charging and a Bose stereo are intended to drive the car upmarket, while the availability of hybrid power may drive down running costs.

Every component of the car is said to be brand new, even though the exterior design appears to have changed very little. Only the bright LED headlights - fitted as standard - are obviously new thanks to the c-shaped sections at the side.

The current Clio remains the best-selling small car in Europe, but sales lag behind more modern rivals in Britain: the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Vauxhall Corsa are nicer to drive, more spacious and better-equipped.

Information so far suggest that the new car could put up a strong fight against this leading trio: read on for full details of the 2019 Renault Clio, or click to see the latest deals on the outgoing car - which should be increasingly good value as its replacement looms.

Key facts

2019 Renault Clio interior

Renault claims that the interior of the latest Clio has been transformed and the images it has released suggest that this will be the case.

The pictures show one of the more expensive Clio versions, with a 9.3in portrait screen in the middle of the dashboard, and a 10in display behind the steering wheel. It offers almost as much screen space as a top-end Audi A1 and more than you’ll find in a Fiesta, Polo or Seat Ibiza.

Despite the obsession with screen size, Renault has still kept dials to control ventilation, which are easy to adjust while keeping your eyes on the road - unlike the fiddly touchscreen functions in some versions of the Citroen C3.

The new Clio’s quality is said to be a vast improvement over the plasticky finish of the current car, with soft-touch materials on the dashboard and doors, as well as the option of customising the colour of interior panels and the stripe that runs across the air vents (red in the images)

So-called piano buttons, which sit horizontally rather than vertically, also give the car a more upmarket look and feel.

Renault says that interior space has been much-improved. The car’s 391-litre boot is claimed to be class-leading and is larger than you’ll find in a Volkswagen Polo (355 litres), Vauxhall Corsa (285 litres) and Ford Fiesta (311 litres).

Rear seat passengers gain more space, partly thanks to a new design of front seat, which provides extra kneeroom for those behind. Those in front are better-looked after too, thanks to a longer base that offers more support.

2019 Renault Clio technology

There’s plenty of technology available on the new Renault Clio, but what remains to be seen is how much comes as standard and what will be optional.

The largest 9.3in central dashboard display will give access to the radio and sat-nav, and should also be compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, for easy mirroring of phone apps and voice control.

Behind the steering wheel are virtual dials, shown on a 7in or 10in display. The larger of these has more space for extra information - such as sat-nav directions which can be shown between the dials.

Wireless charging and a Bose stereo will be optional on the Clio, along with mood lighting, offering a choice of eight different colour schemes.

Renault has promised cutting-edge driver assistance systems that represent a step to fully autonomous driving. This is likely to be less exciting than it sounds - but still advanced - with optional adaptive cruise control that will adjust the speed of the car to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead, along with an active steering system that will keep the car in its lane. You’ll still need to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

2019 Renault Clio review

Nobody outside Renault has driven the new Clio yet, so we can’t judge how it compares to its rivals.

2019 Renault Clio design

Renault is hoping that buyers will see the basic design of the Clio as just the start.

You’ll have the option to pay extra to customise the car, thanks to eight different interior design schemes, which involve coloured panels on the dashboard, steering wheels, door panels and arm rests, as well as the stripe across the air vents.

There will be a choice of ten exterior colours, including a dark “Valencia” orange, plus various combinations of alloy wheels and sporty additions on higher-specification models.

The design is no revolution, which is understandable given the car’s continued popularity. Renault has changed the headlights, adding c-shapes to the sides, but left the shape very similar to the winning formula of the outgoing car.

Once again, the rear door handles are located next to the windows. At first glance, this can appear as if the Clio only has two side doors, giving it a cleaner and sportier look.

2019 Renault Clio model range

There’s not a great deal of information about the new Clio range, but Renault has confirmed that sporty versions will be badged R.S. Line and include larger 17in alloy wheels; sports seats; aluminium pedals; and red stitching on the seats and steering wheel.

2019 Renault Clio engines

The Clio will be one of the few small cars available with a hybrid option at some point in its life.

However, initially, the car is expected to be mainly available with small and efficient petrol engines. A diesel option may also be offered.

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